BAGUIO-Benguet Bishop Carlito Cenzon offered special prayers for members of the media Friday afternoon at the Baguio Cathedral grounds following the recent spate of media killings in the region.
Media practitioners gathered at the Cathedral grounds to pray for colleagues in the city and region.
Cenzon said media practitioners "help us see life in our world with their perception and observations," as he asked God to bless the media.
The prayers also come on the heels of the legal woes plaguing local media practitioners in the line of duty.
"There are times when exposing the truth is not always accepted and our brothers and sisters in the media are tested by criticisms and accusations and even lawsuits," Cenzon said.
Simple candle lighting rites were done with local media groups led by the 50-year-old Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club (BCBC), the umbrella organization of all media groups in the city with Cenzon at the front of the church.
The BCBC is a 200-strong man organization, which unites radio, television and newspaper.
Jun Villanueva, BCBC president, said "this is the only way we can help our colleagues, cases filed are now in court, we will give them moral support," he said.
Cenzon has been vocal about the plight of media in society and has been an advocate for freedom of the press at times leading prayer brigades for the members of the fourth estate. (Ma. Elena Catajan)